Level Up’s Golfstream Is a Sportier Version of Table Service

Golfers can now test their putting and driving skills in the same spot. The first-ever Golfstream suite recently opened at Level Up inside the MGM Grand, offering an interactive experience that’s almost like physically immersing yourself within a video game.

“When people step foot on the green and see it move for the first time, you always get those giggles and those ‘wow’ moments,” says Golfstream co-founder and CEO Darren Dummit.

Using lights, lasers, video screens and overhead projection graphics, the games are designed for all skill levels, ranging from 30-second putting challenges to virtual reality simulations that re-create world-famous golf courses. The technology makes sense in a world where esports and interactive gaming are developing at a frenetic pace. But the experience is socially driven as much as it’s tech-driven. Much like a nightclub table or a poolside cabana, the suite serves as its own VIP lounge for a group of up to 10 friends to enjoy food and drink—cocktails, beer buckets or bottle service.

The suite can be rented for $75–$125 an hour, with packages available for large parties. When not reserved, guests can walk up and play alongside others (similar to a pool or blackjack table) while paying as little as $5 each.

Dummit hatched the idea for Golfstream a few years ago with co-founder Sameer Gupta during a barbecue at a friend’s house, and the two “were just waiting for the technology to catch up and the right team to make it happen.” They joined up with Michael Brenner, who was an engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “He hand-picked a team of specialists who were used to doing things like landing rovers on Mars and tracking stars in space,” Dummit says. “So now they’re just taking those engineering principles and focusing on a ball.”

Gorillaz are coming to Las Vegas for the first time ever. 2016’s Grammy winner for best new artist, Chance the Rapper, will return. English rockers Muse will bring their dizzying live show to the streets of Downtown. And that’s just the top of an eclectic bill that features more than 70 acts, along with comedy, interactive art installations, a group art exhibit featuring the work of Mark Ryden, Tara McPherson and Shepard Fairey and much more. Last year saw more than 137,000 attendees trod the festival footprint. Who’s ready for more?